Reward Increased to $50,000 Amid Ongoing Search for Two Escapees from New Orleans Jail
Search Intensifies for Escaped New Orleans Inmates
The hunt for the remaining two New Orleans jail escapees is heating up, with multiple agencies increasing the reward for information that could lead to their capture. As of Thursday, authorities have raised the bounty to $50,000 per escapee, a notable jump from the previous $20,000 figure. This follows the daring May 16 escape of 10 inmates from the Orleans Justice Center, out of which eight have been captured.
Derrick Groves, one of the men still at large, was convicted in 2024 for the murders of Jamar Robinson and Byron Jackson. The other fugitive, Antoine Massey, was in custody on charges of domestic abuse involving strangulation before the jailbreak. Louisiana State Police Col. Robert Hodges mentioned in a news conference that while it’s unlikely Groves or Massey have left the country due to limited resources, they might have slipped out of Louisiana with help from accomplices.
Hodges speculated that both men might have altered their appearances but are likely feeling worn down and low on resources. “They can keep running,” he noted, “but they can’t hide forever.”
Interestingly, some family members of the escapees have stepped forward with tips to assist in tracking them down. Jonathan Tapp, special agent in charge of the FBI New Orleans Field Office, acknowledged this during the news conference, emphasizing that reporting a friend or relative can be tough.
Concerns about family members exploiting the reward system were dismissed by Hodges, who praised those providing useful information. Darlene Cusanza from Crimestoppers Greater New Orleans confirmed that three tipsters are set to receive rewards for aiding in arrests related to the escape. One individual has already been paid at least $10,000.
Since May 16, over 700 tips have flooded in, prompting Crimestoppers to expand their phone lines. Authorities have arrested at least 14 people accused of helping the inmates before or after their escape. This includes a jail employee who has been charged with facilitating the jailbreak.
The breakout itself was brazen: the inmates removed a toilet from a wall not assigned to them, cut through steel bars, and made a hole behind the toilet to escape. They crawled through this opening to a loading dock and scaled an exterior wall before crossing a freeway to freedom. Before fleeing, they even scribbled taunting messages on a cell wall: “we innocent” and “to easy LOL.”
Shockingly, jail staff didn’t realize they were missing for more than seven hours. The public wasn’t informed until later. Even New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick learned about it from media reports rather than directly from Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson.
The Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office has faced harsh criticism over its handling of the situation. Sheriff Hutson claims she had repeatedly requested funding for vital facility upgrades but was denied each time.
A 33-year-old maintenance worker has been arrested for allegedly aiding in the escape, and more employee arrests may be imminent. Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams is scrutinizing jail call logs and analyzing fingerprints and DNA samples to uncover any further internal involvement.
The investigation into systemic failures at the facility is now spearheaded by the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office with collaboration from the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office.
Meanwhile, federal and state agencies including the U.S. Marshals Service, FBI, ATF, Louisiana State Police, and New Orleans Police Department remain intensely focused on recapturing Massey and Groves. For more details on this ongoing situation, visit Reuters.
For more details, see this background on crime trends.
